About International College of Dentists International Council

Introduction
The International College of Dentists is the world’s preeminent, most prestigious and oldest, international, honorary dental organization. It is directed by its Constitution and Bylaws, a document found at http://www.icd.org/publications/constitution-by-laws.htm The I.C.D.’s official language is English.

Section XX is the International Section. It includes those geographic areas of the College that do not have a sufficient number of Fellows to form regular Sections. This Section is separated in four Divisions: Asian, African, English Caribbean, and Spanish Caribbean. At present, these Divisions have a total of thirteen Regions (please see http://www.icd.org/sections.htm#Regions).

International Council
The International College of Dentists is administered by the International Council. This body is formed by 32 Councilors and eight Officers (President, President-Elect, Vice President, Past President, Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, Treasurer, and Editor). The International Council is guided by the College’s Constitution and Bylaws. The Councilors are representatives of the Sections; their number for a Section is proportional to the quantity of Fellows (please see the Councilors’ distribution in the Introduction). All Councilors are equals among peers.

The International Council meets once a year, in September, October or November. Every even year, the World Assembly takes place in the United States. The venue coincides with the U.S.A. Section’s and the A.D.A.’s annual meeting site. All odd years, the Council Meeting takes place in a different country. The Sections invite and host the International Council for their Annual Convocation and Induction Ceremonies. The Council Meetings and all official correspondence are conducted in English.

Committees
Throughout the year, the College’s work is performed by various Committees. The Executive Committee and the I.C.D. Central Office coordinate the activities. The Standing Committees have basic responsibilities that are stated in the College Bylaws. However, they also receive specific instructions, charges and missions from the International President. The latter also periodically receives their reports. For additional information, please consult http://www.icd.org/governance/committees.htm

There are also Special (Ad Hoc) Committees. They are appointed by the International President or the Executive Committee to carry out specific tasks or missions.

Councilors
“Councilors” represent their respective Sections before the International Council and must be present at all of the Meetings. Each Councilor is a Section Ambassador to the International College of Dentists, and is also a member of the I.C.D.’s Governing Body. Should a Councilor not be able to attend a Meeting, an Official Alternate Representative must be named, in writing, by the corresponding Section.

As a Section’s representative before the International Council, the Councilor shall present all suggestions, concerns, proposals as well as other topics and actions that the represented Section wishes to submit for consideration. For all Council Meetings, each Section’s representative(s) must prepare a detailed written Report of the Section’s activities, events, plans, financial situation, problems, and successes as well as failures. The Report must be received by the College’s Secretary-General no less than sixty days prior to the International Council’s Annual Meeting; otherwise it cannot be incorporated into the Meeting’s “Council Book,” which enables Council members to study it before the Meeting. During the Meeting, at his or her turn, the Councilor may deliver oral comments to clarify or expand the Report. The Councilor must participate in all Council deliberations and, throughout the year, work in his or her assigned Committee(s).

The Councilor must provide his or her Section with a full report on each International Council Meeting’s General Proceedings, Resolutions and Suggestions. As the Section’s Ambassador before the I.C.D. Council, the Councilor is the liaison between both entities.

The Sections usually elect their Councilors for four-year periods, with the option of reelection. There are no specific requirements for Councilor service. However, it is recommended that candidates possess a strong willingness to work and travel, and have demonstrated steadfast I.C.D.-dedication and commitment. A solid command of the English language (fluency in written and spoken English) is required.